Herman Boone Dies At 84

Herman Boone, the Virginia highschool soccer coach portrayed by Denzel Washington within the 2000 movie Keep in mind the Titans, has died. Boone was 84. 

In keeping with Aly Khan Johnson, an assistant on Boone’s workers in 1972, throughout his closing days he was nonetheless fascinated by soccer. 

“His daughter stated the opposite evening he requested for a clipboard,” Johnson stated by way of the Related Press. “He began drawing performs.”

Boone died at his house in Alexandria, Virginia. In keeping with Johnson, a funeral house operated by his spouse is dealing with the preparations, which aren’t full. 

Boone was battling most cancers, and Johnson had deliberate to see him Wednesday when he discovered of his dying.

“He touched many lives and hearts the world over. He was inspirational for thus many individuals, together with me as one in every of his former college students,” Alexandria Metropolis superintendent of faculties Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings Jr. advised WUSA9. “Alexandria Metropolis Public Colleges was lucky to have him as an icon at such a essential time in our historical past. He will probably be dearly missed.”

Boone guided T.C. Williams Excessive Faculty to a state championship in 1971, navigating the early days of segregation. 

Within the 2000 film the place Boone was portrayed by Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington, a lot of the main focus was on the workforce’s uphill battle as the one desegregated faculty competing in opposition to all-white faculties, and the racism and unfair therapy they acquired from vindictive opponents, racist coaches and referees. 

“After I obtained there, you noticed youngsters work collectively, frolicked collectively,” Johnson stated. “It was a brotherhood that you’d see. As you realize, athletics does one thing for a group, and it occurred on the proper time for that group.”